Missing out on the Champions League next season would be a setback for City just as they finally look to be coming of age in the competition. A campaign in the Europa League – in which City are at least guaranteed entry following their Capital One Cup success – was not the plan when they signed up Pep Guardiola as their next manager.

Hart said: “There is not a lot we can take from this night but in the Champions League this year we have grown and shown some good moments. We are going to have to take that into next year.

“It is not a bright moment losing a semi-final when we’d like to think we could have done a lot better. But we didn’t and we are out.”

In the final reckoning, an own goal from Fernando after 20 minutes of the second leg – deflecting Gareth Bale’s effort – proved the only difference between the sides over the two matches.